Indiana basketball legend Damon Bailey joins women's hoops at Butler

He will be an assistant women's basketball coach at Butler under his former boss at Bedford North Lawrence

Bedford North Lawrence High School head coach Damon Bailey gives his players instructions during the second half of the IHSAA Girls Basketball Class 4A Championships, Saturday, March 8, 2014, in Terre Haute, Ind. Bedford North Lawrence High School defeated Penn High School 51-41. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)(Photo: Doug McSchooler, AP)

For his first season as a head coach in college hoops, new Butler women's coach Kurt Godlevske will have an Indiana basketball legend sitting right next to him.

The school announced Tuesday that former Indiana All-American Damon Bailey will join Godlevske's staff as an assistant. Bailey leaves his job as the head coach of the Bedford North Lawrence girls' team, where his daughters Alexa and Loren play.

It was an emotional day for Bailey, who informed his team at the high school he wouldn't be back to try and lead them to a third consecutive state title.

"There's only a few places and a few people that would have pulled me from the spot I was at," Bailey said Tuesday night. "But Butler is one of those places, and Kurt is one of those people."

Bailey's daughter, Alexa, will be a high school senior this coming season and has verbally committed to Butler. She'll begin playing for the Bulldogs in the 2015-16 season.

After Godlevske led the Stars to a perfect 28-0 season and state title in 2012-13, he left the school to become an assistant at Butler under former head coach Beth Couture. After Courture was fired last month, Butler athletic director Barry Collier tapped Godlevske as her replacement.

March 1990 Bedford North Lawrence senior Damon Bailey holds back tears as he tries to thank fans for their support at his last home game at Bedford on senior night. His coach, Dan Bush, gives him a supportive pat on the shoulder. Mike Fender / The Star

1990 IHSAA basketball finals moved to the then-Hoosier Dome. A national-record high school crowd of 41, 046 was in attendance. The final game was Bedford North Lawrence (Damon Bailey) vs. Concord. Star file

BNL head coach Damon Bailey gets frustrated at his team in first quarter action after LC started the game with an 18-0 run. The Franklin Central boys basketball team hosted Beford North Lawrence Friday night, Feb 23, 2007. Sam Riche Indianapolis Star

Damon does some coaching during practice. Damon Bailey, former Indiana high school and college basketball star is the father and a coach for his daughter Alexa Bailey at Bedford North Lawrence High School. Rob Goebel

Damon Bailey, former Indiana high school and college basketball star is the father and a coach for his daughter Alexa Bailey at Bedford North Lawrence High School. The Bailey's are seen at a practice Wednesday February 27, 2013 at the school. Rob Goebel/The Star

Bailey took over for his former boss at BNL, and in his first season as the girls' coach, led the Stars to another state championship.

He said Tuesday night it took an offer he couldn't turn down – joining Godlevske at a school he's long admired like Butler – to lure him from his alma mater.

"There seems to be just a few places left in college athletics where the family values that a lot of us we grew up with aren't pushed aside. I feel like Butler is one of those places," he said.

"Obviously, it says a lot of my relationship with Kurt, and what I think of him, and what I think of Butler, for me to make this decision."

Bailey's basketball journey is near-legend in this state: He became a national story as just an eighth grader, when he was offered a scholarship by then-Indiana coach Bob Knight. Four years later, he capped his storied high school career in stirring fashion, leading the Stars to the 1990 state title before a still-national record of 41,000 fans at the Hoosier Dome.

Bailey remains the state's all-time high school scoring leader with 3,134 points, and went on to become an All-American under Knight at Indiana.

After being drafted by the Indiana Pacers in the second round in 1994, Bailey's pro career never materialized.

He coached the Bedford North Lawrence boys' team for two seasons, 2005-2007, and resigned with a 23-19 record.

"I am truly excited to welcome Damon Bailey to the Bulldog family," Godlevske said in a school release. "He is a great friend, a great coach and an even better person. Our vision for the direction of this program is similar, which makes him a natural fit to the staff. Damon is a basketball icon and I am thrilled to have him as part of our basketball family."

Bailey said his family won't move from Bedford, but he intends to get an apartment in Indianapolis during the season.